Page 76 of Julien (Confessions 2)

“SHE DIDN’T WANT to leave.”

Julien’s voice was flat as he looked Robbie directly in the eye, and even though there were only inches separating them, Robbie knew in that moment they were years apart.

He’d barely taken a breath as Julien had been speaking, caught up in a story that was clearly one he rarely spoke of, and as Robbie sat there wanting to take his hand or hug him, he got the distinct impression if he were to do that, it would have the same effect as a crack in a pane of glass. One tiny fracture and the entire thing could shatter into a million pieces.

“I could tell by the look on her face. She didn’t want to leave. She was having fun. So was Ezra.” Julien’s eyes shifted until he was looking off over Robbie’s shoulder, and a small smile curved his lips. “She wasn’t drunk, but she was having fun…”

Robbie swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling as though it had a lump lodged in the back of it. He had no idea what was going on behind the glazed expression now entering Julien’s eyes, but it was devoid of all emotion as his face went blank—like an Etch A Sketch that had been shaken.

“But I convinced her,” Julien said, his voice cracking. “I told her this was what she’d wanted for me. Right?”

Robbie reached for Julien and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and as he slid down on his side and put his head in Robbie’s lap, Julien whispered, “She didn’t want to leave. But she did…for me.”

“I TOLD you he was sexy,” Jacquelyn whispered, and bumped into Julien’s side as the two of them stood with Ezra outside Shh…and waited for Aaron to hail a cab.

“Oui, you did.”

“And that’s the only reason I’m agreeing to leave right now. For your poor, pathetic sex life.”

“Sure. So it has nothing to do with the way you were climbing Ezra on the dance floor?”

“Well…maybe a little.”

Julien laughed, the alcohol making him feel nice and relaxed. “You’re so charitable, petite poulette. Merci.”

“Je t’en prie,” she said, and winked at him just as Aaron held his hand up and a bright yellow cab pulled up to the curb.

He looked over at the three of them and gestured that they join him, and Jacquelyn aimed a sultry look at Ezra, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders and directed her to the van, and Julien followed.

When they reached Aaron, he slid open the door of the cab and said, “After you,” and Jacquelyn looked back at Julien and mouthed, Manners… He’s a keeper, before turning back to Aaron. “Merci beaucoup.”

He aimed a heart-stopping smile her way as she slipped into the first seat and Ezra moved in beside her, his hand landing somewhere that made her giggle. Julien then moved into the back, where Aaron sat down beside him.

“Oo-la-la. Pretend we’re not here, boys,” Jacquelyn said, subtle as a sledgehammer. “Snuggle all you like.”

“Ferme-la,” Julien said, but chuckled, which only made her laugh harder.

“Come on, you two,” Aaron said, as Ezra slid the door shut. “No speaking French around the ignorant Americans.”

“Promise,” Julien said as the interior light dimmed and Jacquelyn gave their address to the driver. Aaron then leaned over and kissed Julien’s ear, and as the cab headed off, Julien sat back and let the alcohol and arousal swirl through his veins until they were pulling into the driveway of their home and Jacquelyn was unlocking the back doors of the house.

“Shit, this place is crazy big,” Aaron said, as his eyes travelled around the rooms they led him by.

“Totally our thoughts the first time we saw it,” Jacquelyn said, leading them all down to the bar area.

“Your parents?”

“Of course,” Julien said, laughing at the idea that any of them could own something like this at their age.

“Right,” Aaron said. “I’m over off Stone Canyon Road. Still with my parents too.”

Ahh, a neighbor… Julien probably should’ve guessed that by the designer clothes Aaron was wearing.

“Oh, would you look at that. You’re so close,” Jacquelyn said when they finally reached the bar, and Ezra handed her a bottle of water from the fridge. “That’s nice. Isn’t that nice, Jules?”

For once, Julien agreed. It was nice, and he wouldn’t mind seeing more of Aaron—like, now, preferably with his clothes off. “It is,” he said, and walked over to Aaron, who was standing in the middle of the room. “Do you want something else to drink, or…”

Aaron gave a flirty smile that made Julien want to take him straight to his bedroom and get inside him. But as Julien tugged him close, Aaron pulled a small plastic Ziploc out of his pocket and said, “What about one of these instead?”

Julien looked at the small pills in the clear bag, and he was about to ask what they were when Ezra said, “Is that E?”

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